Continuous reel-winding apparatus



May 11, 1965 A. w. NELSON CONTINUOUS REEL-WINDING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. l, 1963 VII H mw M May 11, 1965 A. w. NELSON 3,182,921

CONTINUOUS REEL-WINDING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 1, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,182,921 CONTINUOUS REEL-WINDING APPARATU Alden W. Nelson, West Mystic, Conn., assignor to Crompton & Knowles Corporation, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Aug. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 299,268 9 Claims. (Cl. 242-25) This invention relates to continuous stock winding apparatus in general, and to stock take-ups of dual-reel type in particular.

Take-ups of the type to which the present invention pertains commonly hold two adjacent reels of which one reel is driven and fully wound with flexible stock from a continuous supply under the control of a guide which leads the stock onto the reel in successive layers of orderly arranged turns, whereupon the winding of the stock may without interruption be continued on the adjacent `second reel by shifting the guide into wind-on relation therewith for the same orderly wind of stock thereon. The drive of the second reel is started just before the winding of the full reel is concluded so that on the shift of the guide both reels are driven and the guided stock is crossed over from the full reel to the empty reel and, in consequence, caught by snaggers on the respective reels near their adjacent end rims. The crossover stock thus snagged is taken around by the reels for less than one turn against a cutter in 'itsapath which severs it. Then, while the winding of stock on the second reel proceeds, the full reel is brought to a gradual stop and replaced by an empty reel which will be wound next as soon as the winding of the second reel is concluded and the stock again crossed over by the guide. The Winding of successive reels thus proceeds uninterruptedly.

In shifting the guide from each full reel to the adjacent emptyr reel, the crossover stock is usually caught rst by a snagger on the full reel and shortly thereafter by a snagger on the empty reel, this by virtue of the extent of the crossover stock at an inclination to the reel axes. However, in order to assure that the supply stock will in any event be securely anchored in a snagger on the empty reel for its reliable uninterrupted wind on the latter, the empty reel is at the time of stock crossover usually driven at higher speed than the full reel so that one of itsV snaggers will grip the crossover stock `with optimum force. While this assures secure anchorage of the supply stock to the empty reel, it happens all too frequently that the severed terminal end of theV wound stock on the 'full reel escapes from its snagger and forms a loose stock end of formidable length which whips around in uncontrolled fashion until the full reel cornes to a stop.- Thus, a loose stock end spinning around with a full reel usually hits and rebounds more or less sharply from some part or parts of the take-up and, in consequence, becomes marred or otherwise damaged, but even far more serious is the damage frequently sustained by the top layer of the wound stock, such as insulated wire or cable for example, on being hit in snake-like fashion by the severed terminal end of the whipping stock length.

It is the primary object of the present invention to make provision in a take-up of-this type for averting any whipping of a loose stock end on each full reel against any part of the take-up so that neither theloose stock end nor the Wound stock can possibly be damaged.

It is another object of the present invention to have the aforementioned stock whip averting provision in a take-up of this type in the form of a shield whichisin the whip path of a loose stock end on any full Vreel and extends generally around thereels `so asto serve as a fixed track which intercepts such loose stock end and "ice leads the same harmlessly around the respective full reel until the latter comes to a stop.

It is a further object of the present invention to arrange the aforementioned shield in a take-up of this .type so that the same neither requires any departure from any and all conventional constructive aspects of take-ups of this type nor any change whatsoever in the customary operation of such take-ups, including the replacement of full reels with empty reels, with the shield even lending itself vto readyinstallation in existing take-ups.

Another object of the present invention is to form the aforementioned shield in a take-up of this type in complemental iixed and movable sections which are normally closed about the reels in individual Whip averting relation with any loose stock end thereon, but open on a shift of the movable section from its operative position in whip averting relation with such loose stock end into its inoperative position to provide a non-obstructed path for the accustomed interchange of reels in the take-up.

A further object of the present invention is to arrange the aforementioned movable section of the shield in a take-upV of this type so that either full reel will, on its usual power removal from the take-up for its interu change with an empty reel, shift the movable section out of its path, if it should block the same, so that this section will neither interfere with, nor be in any way damaged by, the removal of any1-eel if an operator should neglect to shift this section to its inoperative position prior to manipulating the usual control for the power re- Y moval of the reel. ,Y

It is another object of the present invention to arrange the aforementioned shield in a take-up of this type so that the same will effectively avert whipping of a loose stock end on any full reel against any part of the take-V up, this despite a gap in this shield in the stock windon andV crossover regions which is imperative for unobstructed admission of the supply stock to each reel and of the crossover stock to the snaggers on both reels, but over the width of which a loose stock end is free to whip outwardly. To this end, a length of the shield immediately following the gap therein in the drive direction of the reels is of substantially straight extent and leads tangentially to the remainder of the shield of substantially circular extent, so that any loose stock end passing through the shield gap will whip against this straight shield length, but rather than rebound therefrom to any appreciable extent will, instead, be harmlessly dragged thereover the same as over the remainder of the shield.

It is a further object of the present invention to arrange the aforementioned shield in a take-up of this type so that the same is adjustable to reels of dierent sizes, to the end of confining a loose stock end on any full reel of any size sufficiently close to the latter to avoid on its whipping passage through the shield gap appreciable rebound from the straight shield length and, instead, divert it into harmless drag thereover. t

Other objects and advantages will appear to those skilled in the art from the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

FIG. l is a front view, partly broken away, of a take up embodying the present invention; Y

FIG. 2 is a section through the take-up taken substantially on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG.Y 3 is a section through the take-up taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. l; and

FIG. 4 is a section similar to FIG. 3, but showing the take-up in a different operating condition.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. l and 2 thereof, the reference numeral 10 designates a stock take-up of dual-reel type, having a frame 12 on which are mounted the various operating devices, such as reel stands 14, reel drives 16, a stock guide 18, a crossover stock range and a stock severing device 22. The frame 12 is in this instance of articulated type, having upright end brackets 24 and 26 and a number of frame or tie bars which extend between and are secured to the end brackets 24 and 26. In the present instance, there are provided a pair of base frame bars 28, a pair of rear frame bars and a pair of top frame hars 32.

There are provided two reel stands 14 of which one is omitted in FIG. 1 but shown in FIG. 2. These reel stands are identical, except that they are of left and right hand design for removably supporting reels R in side-byside relation, wherefore they are sometimes referred to hereinafter as left and righ reel stands 14A and 14B, respectively. Each reel stand 14 is at its bottom pivoted at 34 to a bracket 36 on the base frame bars 28, and has suitably journalled in its top a reel spindle 38 which extends cantilever-like to one side of the stand for removable reception of a reel R. The reel is held on the spindle 38 by a removable collar 40 which is in the form of an antifriction bearing for a reason described hereinafter, with the reel being drivingly connected with the spindle 38 through intermediation of a releasable coupling 42. Each reel stand 14 is swingably upwardly into reel-winding position (FIGS. l and 2) and downwardly into reel-exchange position (FIG. 3) in which a full reel is removed and replaced by an empty reel. In the reel-winding position of each reel stand 14 (FIGS. 1 and 2) the antifriction bearing 40 at the free end of the respective reel spindle 38 rests in a seat 44 machined in the upright arm 46 of a bracket 48 which is with its base 50 mounted on the base frame bars 28, with the seat 44 being semi-annular and accessible through a clearance recess 52 (FIG. 2) through which the bearing 40 moves into and from engagement with the seat 44 on the swing of the stand 14 into its reelwinding and reel-exchange positions, respectively. The reel-carrying spindle 38 of each stand 14 thus has at its free end the additional support of its bearing 40 in the associated seat 44 when the stand is in its winding position.

Identical operatinggdevices 56 are provided to swing the respective reel stands 14 into their reel-winding and reel-exchange positions. Each of these operating devices 56 is in the form of a cylinder 58 with a double-acting plunger the rod 60 of which is pivotally connected at 62 with the respective reel stand at its top. The cylinder 58 is at 64 pivoted to opposite arms 66 on a bracket 68 which is carried by the rear frame bars 30. Thus, on admitting fluid under pressure to the left end of the cylinder 53 (FIG. 2) and simultaneously venting the other cylinder end, the associated reel stand 14 is swung into, and held in, its reel-winding position. Conversely, on venting the left end of this cylinder (FIG. 3) and simultaneously admitting fluid under pressure into the opposite cylinder end, the associated reel stand will be swung into its reel-exchange position.

Each reel R has a wind-on drum 70 and opposite end flanges 72 of which the adjacent end flanges of the reels on the stands suitably carry discs 74 with peripheral snaggers 76. For the exchange of a full reel for an empty reel on either stand, the latter is swung to its reel-exchange position (FIG. 3) and the full reel removed axially from the spindle 38 after irst removing the end bearing 40 thereon, whereupon an empty reel is passed onto the spindle 38 into driving connection with the coupling 42 and the end bearing 40 remounted on the spindle, with the stand and empty reel thereon being finally swung back into winding position.

The drives 16 for the reels on the respective stands 14 are in this instance also identical. Thus, each reel drive 16 has for its prime mover an electric motor 80 which at S2 is coupled to the input shaft S4 of a rightangle gear drive 86 the; output shaft 88 of which carries a multi-groove pulley 90 that is drivingly connected through belts 92 with a similar pulley 94 on the spindle 38 of the respective reel stand 14. The motor 80 and gear drive 86 are suitably mounted on the support bracket 36 of the respective reel stand. The drive direction of each reel is in the present instance anticlockwise as viewed in FIG. 2.

Continuously delivered stock s, such as insulated wire or cable, for example, is customarily passed through an accumulator and over a pay-out sheave (neither shown) to the stock guide 18 which leads the stock onto an empty reel for its orderly wind thereon until the reel is fully wound, and then crosses the stock over to the other, empty reel and leads it for its orderly wind .thereon, with the crossover stock being severed and the severed stock end anchored to the empty reel in a manner described hereinafter and the full reel replaced with an empty reel While the winding of the other reel proceeds. To this end, the stock guide 18, with its action rolls 96 of preferred anti-friction type (FIG. l), is suitably mounted on a slide bracket 98 which is supported and guided on the top frame bars 32 and in threaded engagement with a traverse spindle 100 that extends parallel to the top frame bars 32 and is suitably journalled in spaced bearing brackets 102 mounted on the top frame bars. A suitable reversible drive (not shown) is provided for the traverse spindle 100 so that the same may move the stock guide 18 in either direction and over the full expanse of two reels on the stands 14.

The crossover stock track 20 is designed to hold the crossover stock s (FIG. l) out of the paths of the snaggers 76 on the driven reels on the stands 14 until the stock guide 18 is well in Wind-on reach of the reel to which it crossed over, with the track 20 then acting to release the crossover stock into the paths of snaggers on -both reels which grab this stock and carry it around against the severing device 22 to-be-described Where the stock is severed, with the severed stock beingA anchored to the snagger on the reel being wound which carried it against the severing device. The track 20 is in the exemplary form of projecting arcuate guide members 106 on the head 108 of a slide 110 which is guided for movement at right angles to the reel axes in a swing bracket 112 that is at its rear pivoted at 114 to a fixed arm 116 on the upper rear frame bar 30 and held in its forwardly projected position by a link 118 which is pivoted with its ends at 120 and 122 to lugs 124 and 126 on the bracket 112 and arm 116, respectively. The track 20 is shown in FIGS. l and 2 in its forwardly projected, operative position in which it holds the crossover stock s out of the paths of the snaggers 76 on both driven reels, and in order to release this stock to the snaggers the track 20 is in this instance retracted to an inoperative position. To the end of moving the track 20 yinto its operative and inoperative positions, there is mounted on the bracket 112 a cylinder 128 with a double-acting plunger the rod of which is connected with the head 108 of the slide 110. Thus, on admitting fluid under pressure to the rear end of the cylinder 128 (FIG. 2) and simultaneously venting the front end thereof, the track 20 will be shifted to its operative position, while on the reverse procedure the track 20 will be shifted to its inoperative position.

The stock severing device 20 is in this instance a simple knife blade 132 which is carried by the upright arm 46 of the bracket 4S and is in the path of crossover stock and severs the same when taken around by snaggers on both driven reels for considerably less than one turn from the region where it was thus snagged.

The exemplary take-up described so far may in all respects be and perform like that disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,932,462, dated April 12, 1960. For a better understanding of the present invention described hereinafter, there is given a brief description of the operation of the present take-up. Thus, beginning with the exemplary stage of a winding operation as shown in FIG. 1, both reels R `are driven and the stock guide 18 has on its crossover to the empty reel on the right stand 14B just about reached the point for starting a winding operation on the latter reel. It is, therefore, at this time that the crossover stock track 2t) is quickly shifted from its operative position (FIG. 2) into its retracted inoperative position, with the crossover stock s' thus released from the track 2i) snapping into the paths of and being caught by the nearest snaggers '76 on the driven reels which take the stock around and against the knife blade 132 which severs it, with the severed end of the supply stock s being .anchored to the snagger on the right reel which carried it against the knife blade 132 so that vlinding of the stock on the right reel will then commence. The stock guide 18 will then traverse back and forth between the end flanges 72 of the right reel until the same is fully Wound. In the meantime, the full reel on the left stand 14A is brought to a stop and the latter shifted first into its reel-exchange position (FIG. 3) for exchanging the full reel for an empty reel and then back to its winding position for the next winding operation, and the crossover stock track 20 is also returned to its operative position (FIG. 2) for interception of the stock on its next crossover to the empty left reel. There is thus everything in readiness for the Winding of the left reel even before the winding of the right reel is concluded. Just before the right reel is fully Wound, the drive of the empty left reel is started, and when the right reel is fully wound the stock guide 18 quickly crosses from wind-on relation therewith over into wind-on relation with the empty left reel in the course of which the crossover stock rides over the track 20. As soon as the stock guide 18 has crossed over sufficiently to deflect the crossover stock into the paths of snaggers on both driven reels on retraction of the track 20 int-o its inoperative position, the latter is thus retracted and the crossover stock snagged and carried against the knife blade 132 for its severance thereat, with the severed end of the supply stock s being then anchored to the snagger on the empty left reel which caught it, to start the winding of this reel. While the left reel is thus being wound, the full right reel is brought to a stop and exchanged for an empty reel and the track 20 shifted to its operative position, all as described previously, in preparation for the next winding of the empty right reel. Reels are thus successively wound with stock without interruption until the operation is stopped.

To assure continuous winding of stock on successive reels, it is, of course, imperative that with each severance of the -stock the severed end of the supply stock s is securely anchored to the empty reel next to be wound. This is achieved, in the present instance, by driving the empty reel at higher speed than the full reel at the time of crossover of the stock guide 1S from the full reel to the empty reel and release of the crossover stock s from the track 20, and timing the release of the crossover stock from the track 2@ so that the released crossover stock will be sufficiently inclined to the reel axes to be caught by the nearest snagger on the full reel and taken along for some distance before it is caught by a snagger on the empty reel. Thus, while the crossover stock is caught first by a snagger on the full reel and is taken along at the slowerspeed of the latter, a snaggeron the empty reel will catch up with the crossover stock and snag the same at the greater speed of the empty reel with ensuing more secure anchorage of the stock to the snagger on the empty reel. However, while the severed end of the supply stock will thus be securely anchored to each empty reel to-be-wound, it frequently `happens that owing to the speed dilferentialof the driven reels at the time of stock severance the severed stock ends on'thefull reels escape from their snaggers and form loose ends of formidable lengths which spin around with the full reels until the latter are brought to a stop. These loose spinning stock lengths on full reels whip around in uncontrolled fashion, often becoming damaged when whipping against nearby parts of the take-up, and even more serious, frequently damaging wound stock on the full reels when they hit the same snake-like with their more or less sharp severed ends on whipping against and rebounding from nearby parts of the take-up. Accordingly, such loose severed Vstock lengths on spinning full reels, whether brought about by snagging the crossover stock for its severance as in the present example, or carrying it by any other mode against a knife blade for its severance while both reels are driven, seriously endanger any winding operation.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a stock-protective shield 14d which in the whipregion of loose severed stock lengths on full reels on both stands 14 extends around both reels except for a necessary gap therein through which the stock extends on its wind onto either reel and crossover to the other reel. Thus, the shield extends around the reels on both stands 14 except for the gap g through which the unwound stock extends (FIG. 2). Wit-h the stock guide 18 and crossover stock track 26 being in this instance arranged at the top of thetake-up, the gap g in the shield 141,l is a top gap therein. For a reason explained hereinafter, an initial length L1 of the shield 140 immediately following the gap g in the exemplary anticlockwise drive direction of the reels gradually approaches the reels, and is preferably straight (FIG. 2), while the remaining length L2 of the shield is arranged in relatively close lproximity to and conformity with the reel peripheries, and is preferably concentric thcrewith, with the initial shield length L1 leading preferably tangentially to the remaining shield length L2. Provision is further made to provide in the shield 14) another, temporary, gap G through which to undertake the reel exchange (FIG. 3). With the exemplary reel stands 14 being for reel-exchange swingable forwardly of the frame 12 and downwardly (FIG. 3), the temporary gap G is Vformed on retracting a separate section 142 of the shield at the front of the frame 12, with this section being formed by successive parts of the shield lengths L1 and L2.V The shield section 142 is for retractability carried by a top-hinged gate 144. The remainder of the shield 14d is preferably and advantageously arranged in further separate sections 146, 148 and 150.

Among these, the shield section 146 forms a fixed top part of the initial shield length L1, thus permitting the construction of the gate 144 at relatively small size and light weight for its facile opening and closing. Shield section 150 is fixed in the rear of the frame 12, while the remaining shield section 143 is, for a reason explained hereinafter, advantageously of considerable longitudinal extent comparable in this instance to that of the shield section i (FIG. 2), and is also divided into separate sub-sections 143e and 14311 which are carried by and swingable with the respective reel stands 14A and 14B (FIGS. 1to'3).

The several shield sections 142, 146, 14S and 150 are further arranged in the whip-regions of loose Vsevered stock ends on full reels on both stands 14. In the present instance, these whip-regions around the reels on both stands are immediately inward of their respective end flanges 72 which are adjacent each other, wherefore .the shield sections need only be of suliicient width to cover these whip-regions with a good safety margin. To this end, the shield sections 142, 146, 14S and 15b may widthwise be arranged as shown in FIG. 1, with the shield sections 145, 143 and 15'@ bridging the gap between the adjacent'end flanges 72 of both'reels and extending therebeyond for some safe distance into the axial confines of the respective reels, and the sub-sections 143e and 14E-3b of the shield section 143 extending from partial overlap with the adjacent end iianges of the respective reels for some safe distance into the axial confines of the latter.

The mounting of the individual shield sections may be accomplished in any suitable manner. For example, top brackets 152 at the opposite ends of the frame 12 and connecting angles 154 and 156 may form the supporting structure for the shield section 146 and the gate 144 with its shield section 142. Thus, the shield section 146 may suitably be secured to -rails 158 and 160 on the top angle 154 and on a mounting plate 162 on both angles 154, 156. The shield section 142 is by suitable braces 164 mounted on the gate 144 which at its top is hinged on a bar 166 that is mounted with its ends in the top brackets 152. The sub-sections 148a and 14Sb of the shield section 148 have extension arms 168 and 170 (FIG. 1) by means of which they Aare mounted on the respective reel stands 14A and 14B as at 172 and 174, respectively (FIGS. l `and 2). Finally, the shield section 150, which has a circular web 176 with rearwardly extending side flanges 178, has near its top and between the side flanges 178 a rearwardly extending lug 180 (FIG. l) through which extends the pin 120 by means of which the swing bracket 112 is held in position by the link 118 (FIG. 2), wherefore the top of the shield section 150 is supported by the swing bracket 112 and is also swingable therewith as explained more fully hereinafter. To complete the mounting of the shield section 150, the same has near its bottom and in its opposite side flanges 178 outwardly projecting trunnions 182 that extend through slots 184 in the opposite sides 186 of a U-shaped bracket 188 which with its base 190 is suitably mounted on the rear frame bars 30 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

With the gate 144 closed and the take-up in operation, let it be assumed that the crossover stock from the full reel R on the left stand 14A (FIG. 2) has just been severed and the severed stock end on this reel escaped from its snagger to form a loose stock end that spins around with the reel until it comes to a stop, the shield 140 is in the whip path of, and serves as a slide track for, this loose stock end. The only times the loose stock end is permitted to whip is on each passage thereof through the gap g in the shield, while at all other times this loose stock end is dragged harmlessly over the shield as shown, for example, by the dot-and-dash line position e of the stock end in FIG. 2. Everytime this dragging loose stock end clears the rear shield section 150 it will on its unobstructed pass through the shield gap g whip outwardly and, in consequence, increase in length by the time it whips against the straight shield length L1, and in this case primarily against the fixed shield section 146, as shown by the exemplary dotted-line position e' of the stock end in FIG. 2. However, while the whip of the loose stock end through the shield gap g and against the shield length L1 may be quite swift, the stock end thus whipping will sustain no damage on its whip against the shield, owing to the gradual, and in this instance straight approach of the shield length L1 to the remaining shield length of concentric extent with the reels which affords the whipping stock end little, if any opportunity to rebound therefrom on its clash therewith. Further, the shield section 146 is arranged at a safe elevation at which the whipping stock end could never reach the top edge thereof and become ensnared therewith. Thus, with each whip of the loose stock end through the shield gap g stopped and checked at the shield length L1 in entirely harmless fashion, the stock end will in whipless fashion be dragged quite harmlessly over the entire extent of the shield much in the manner of the dot-and-dash line stock end e in FIG. 2. Damage either to the loose stock end or to Wound stock on the full reel is thus entirely obviated. Once the full reel comes to a stop, the gate 144 is opened for exchange of the full reel for an empty reel (FIG. 3). To thus open the gate 144, there may be provided a power-operated chain 194 under an operators or automatic control. However, it will be noticed from FIGS. 2 and 3 that the gate 144 may be opened by a full reel on either stand on a shift of the u latter into its reel-exchange position if for some reason or other the gate 144 should not have been opened previously, with neither the gate nor the reel sustaining any damage.

With the take-up adapted for winding reels of different sizes, i.e. reels of different diameters, provision is also made for adapting the shield 159 to reels of different sizes. This requires adjustability of the rear shield section 150 so that its trailing end 196 at the shield gap g may be spaced closer from the reel axes, which in any event involves a shift of this shield section into dispositions eccentric with respect to the immediately preceding shield section 14S (FIG. 4). Numerous ways of mounting the rear shield section to this end suggest themselves, though the described mount of this shield section is preferred owing to the provision in the present exemplary take-up of the crossover `stock track 2t) which is also adjustable to reels of different sizes. Thus, it will be noted in FIG. 2 that the lower end of the link 118 has several holes 198 for selective reception of the removable pivot 122 in the lug 126 on the arm 116, with the pivot 122 shown received in the endrnost hole in the link to hold the swing bracket 112 and crossover stock track 2t) in optimum elevated position for reels of maximum size. However, for the reels of smaller size in the take-up shown the FIG. 4, the swing bracket 112 and crossover stock track 2t) have been lowered to permit the latter to perform its described function on these smaller reels, with the pin 122 in the lug 126 on the arm 116 being to this end received in another hole 198 in the link 118. In thus adjusting the crossover stock track 2t), the rear shield section 151) is automatically adjusted with this track, owing to its pivot connection 120 with the swing bracket 112, with the result that the trailing end 196 of the rear shield section 150 is lowered and, hence, spaced closer to the reel axes. In thus simultaneously adjusting the track 20 and rear shield section 150, the entire shield section is lowered owing to its downward floating pivot connections 182, 184 with the mounting bracket 188, but with these floating pivot connections being inclined downwardly and rearwardly, as shown, the lower part of the shield section 15) is moved rearwardly away from the immediately preceding shield section 148, wherefore the adjustment motion of the rear shield section 150 is a compound bodily and rotary motion. Adjustment in this fashion of the rear shield section 150 not only brings the trailing end 196 thereof into the desired proper proximity to the reels but forms thereat with the straight shield length L1 a large angle X which is further advantageous.

Assuming now that the spinning full reel R' in FIG. 4 has a loose severed stock length e, the same will drag over the trailing end 196 of the shield section 150 in a manner like or similar to that shown in full lines, and the same will on its whip through the shield gap g increase in length and strike `against the straight shield length L1, with the least, if any, rebound therefrom, in a manner like or similar to that shown in dot-and-dash lines e1, with the loose stock end then being dragged to the end of the shield section 148 in a manner like or similar to that shown in dotted lines e2. With the lower end of the rear shield section 150 being spaced rearwardly from the section 148, the loose stock end will, on clearing section148, whip mildly against the rear section 1.50 and be dragged over the remainder of the same until again whipping through the shield gap g and repeating its pass over the shield. It follows from the preceding that neither the loose stock end e nor the Wound stock on the reel can possibly be damaged. The gradual approach of the eccentric rear shield section 150 to the reel and the described large angle formation X of its trailing end 196 with the straight shield length L1 are advantageous since they combine to suppress the l-oose stock end toward the reel prior to its whip through the shield gap g which not only moderates the 9 whip action of the stock end through this gap and against the shield length L1, but also delays the whip action of the loose stock end in the shield gap sufficiently to assure that a substantial end length, rather than lthe very end, of the loose stock length strikes against the shield length L1.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth Without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.v

What is claimed is:

l. In stock-winding apparatus, the combination with means for removably supporting axially aligned rotary reels, separate drives for the supported reels, a guide operative to lead stock onto either reel and cross it over to the other reel, and a knifeV in the path 4of crossover stock between and taken around by the driven reels for severing the stock, of a shield extending around the supported reels nad having a gap through which the stock extends on its wind onto either reel and crossover to the other reel, said shield being continuous around the reels except at said gap Vto serve as an uninterrupted slide track to and from said gap for any spinning stock end, with a iirst length of said shield immediately following said gap in the drive direction of the reels gradually approaching the supported reels and being of adequate length to intercept within its lengthwise extent an loose stock end whipping through said gap.

2. In stock-winding apparatus, the combination w-ith adjacent stands for removably supporting axially aligned rotary reels, separate drives for the supported reels, a guide operative to lead stock onto either reel and cross it over to the other reel, and a knife in the path of crossover stock between and taken around by the driven reels for severing the stock, with said stands being individually movable transversely of the reel axes into reel-winding and reel-exchange positions, of a shield around the reels in Winding position lhaving a gap through which the stock extends on its Wind onto either reel and crossover to the other reel,y sai-d shield being sufficiently close to the reels to be in the whip path of, and serve as a slide track for, any loose severed stock end spinning around with either full reel, with said shield being formed in separate sections of which one section is mounted for retractability from the path of 'movement of Veither stand and re-el thereon into reel-exchange position.l

3. The combination in stock-Winding apparatus asset `forth .in claim 2, in ywhich another section of said shield is formed in separate sub-sections carried by and movable with the respective stands.

4. In stock-,winding apparatus, the combination with a frame having a base, adjacent stands for removably supporting axially 4aligned rotary reels, with said stands being pivoted on said frame base yabout 'a common axis `for individual swingability from reel-Winding position into lower reel-exchange position forward of said frame,

separate drives for the supported reels, a guide above Y the stands operative to lead stock onto either reel and cross it over to the other reel, and a knife in the path of crossover stock between and taken around by the driven reels for severing the stock, of a shield around the reels in winding position having a top gap through which the stock extends on its wind onto either reel and crossover to the other reel, said shield being suiciently close to the reels to be in the whip path of, and serve as a slide track for, any loose severed stock end spinning around with either full reel, and sai-d shield having a first length separate from the remainder of the shield and pivotally mounted for retractability from the path of movement of either stand and reel thereon into reel-exchange position.

5. The combination in stock-winding apparatus as set forth in claim 4, in which a second length of said shield at the front of said frame and immediately following said top gap in the drive direction of the reels and the remaining length of said shield are of substantially straight and circular extents, respectively, said second shield length leads downwardly andtangentially to said remaining shield length and extends lengthwise suiiiciently above the stands to be within its lengthwise extent in the path of the entire length of any loose stock end whipping through said top gap in the shield, and successive parts of said second and remaining shield lengths form said first shield length which at its top is pivoted about an axis parallel to said common axis for yswingability forward of said frame .from the path of movement of either stand and reel thereon into reelexchange position.

6. The combination in stock-winding apparatus as set forth in claim 5, in which the remaining part of said remaining shield length is arranged in separate successive complemental first and second sections nearest the base and at the rea-r, respectively, of said frame, with said first section being further formed as separate subsections carried by and swingable with the respective stands.

7. -In stock-winding apparatus, the 4combination with .means for removably supporting axially align-ed rotary reels of different sizes, separate drives for the supported reels, a guide operative -to lead. stock onto either reel and cross it over to the other reel, and a knife in the path of cross-over stock between and taken around by the driven reels for severing the stock, of a shield around the supported reels having a gap through which the stock extends on its Wind `onto either reel and crossover to the other reel, a first length of said shield immediately following said gap in the drive direction of the reels gradually approaches the latter, and the remaining shield length extends sufiiciently close to the supported reels for drag there-over of any loose severed stock end on either full reel, with part of said remaining shield length being mounted ior adjustability with its end at said shield gap at different distances from the axes of the supported reels so as to release loose severed stock ends on full reels of any size for their whip through said shield gap and against said first shield length in substantially reboundless fashion.

8. In stock-winding apparatus, the combination with means for removably supporting axially aligned rotary reels of different sizes, separate drives for the supported reels, a guide operative to lead stock onto either reel and cross it over to the other reel, and a knife in the path of crossover stock between and taken around by the driven reels for severing the stock, of a shield around the supported reels having a gap through which the stock extends on its wind onto either reel and crossover to the other reel, said shield having successive first, second and third lengths, of which said `first and second lengths extend substantially straight and concentric with the supported reels, respectively, with said first shield length immediately following said shiel-d gap in the drive direction of the reels leading tangentially to said second shield length, and said first and second shield lengthsy being suiiiciently close tosuppor-ted reels of any size to be in the whip-path of, and serve as a slide track for, any loose severed stock end spinning around with either full reel, said third shield length being partcircular and extending to said shield gap and being mounted for adjustment into first and second positions concentric with and eccentric to said second shield length, respectively, with said third shield length being at said gap closer to the axes of supported reels in said second positions than in said first position, and said third shield length being adjustable in accordance with reels of different sizes so as to be in the whip-path of, and/or serve as a slide track for, any loose severed stock ends in Atransit from i l Y said second shield length to said shield gap and to rele-ase such stock ends for their whip through said shield gap and against said first shield length in substantially reboundless fashion.

9. In stock-winding apparatus, the combination with means for removably supporting axially aligned rotary `reels having `on their adjacent ends peripheral stock snaggers, separate drives for the supported reels, a guide operative to lead stock onto either reel and cross it over to lthe other reel, a track bridging the adjacent reel ends and being in the path of crossover stock on which the latter is diverted from the paths of said snaggers, with crossover stock being releasable from said track into the path of snaggers and said track being adjustable toward and away from the axes of supported reels, and a knife in the path of crossover stock between and taken 4around by snaggers on the driven reels for severing the stock, of a shield around the support-ed reels having a gap through which the stock extends on its wind onto either reel and crossover to the other reel, a first length of said shield immediately following said gap in the drive direction of the reels gradually approaches the latter, and the -remaining shield length extends sufliciently close to the supported ree-ls for drag thereover of any loose snagger-escaped severed stock end on either full reel, with said remaining shield length being formed in separate successive sections of which that section extending to said shield gap is connected and adjustable with said track so fas to release loose snagger-escaped severed stock ends on full reels of any size for their whip through said shield gap and against said rst shield length in substantially reboundless fashion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,255,426 9/41 `Lamescii 242-18 X 2,932,462 4/60 Nelson 242-24 MERVN STEN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN STOCK-WINDING APPARATUS, THE COMBINATION WITH MEAS FOR REMOVABLY SUPPORTING AXIALLY ALIGNED ROTARY REELS, SEPARATE DRIVES FOR THE SUPPORTED REELS, A GUIDE OPERATIVE TO LEAD STOCK ONTO EITHER REEL AND CROSS IT OVER TO THE OTHER REEL, AND A KNIFE IN THE PATH OF CROSSOVER STOCK BETWEEN AND TAKEN AROUND BY THE DRIVEN REELS FOR SEVERING THE STOCK, OF A SHIELD EXTENDING AROUND THE SUPPORTED REELS NAD HAVING A GAP THROUGH WHICH THE STOCK EXTENDS ON ITS WIND ONTO EITHER REEL AND CROSSOVER TO THE OTHER REEL, SAID SHIELD BEING CONTINUOUS AROUND THE REELS EXCEPT AT SAID GAP TO SERVE AS AN UNINTERRUPTED SLIDE TRACK TO AND FROM SAID GAP FOR ANY SPINNING STOCK END, WITH A FIRST LENGTH OF SAID SHIELD IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING SAID GAP IN THE DRIVE DIRECTION OF THE REELS GRADUALLY APPROACHING THE SUPPORTED REELS AND BEING OF ADE- 